Folding-wing aeroplane.



H. L, A. E. 0. SHORT.

F0LDlNG Wl NG AEROPLANE. APPLICATION r'u so MAY 4,1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE LEONARD SHORT, ALBERT EUSTACE SHORT, AND HUGH OSWALD SHORT, OF BATTERSEA PARK, ENGLAND.

FOLDING-WING AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 21, 1916.

Application filed May 4, 1916. Serial No. 95,518.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HORACE LEONARD SHORT, ALBERT EUSTAGE SHORT, and HUGH OswALD SHORT, aeronautical engineers, subjects of the King of Great Britain, all residing at 56 Prince of Vales Mansions, Queens Road, Battersea Park, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Foldinging Aero-planes, and

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aeroplane flying machines of that type in which the wings can be folded rearwardl in order to re- 5 duce the spanTF-ft e mac 11 when it is not in flight, and the invention particularly refers to folding wing machines of that kind which we have previously described in the specification of our United States Patent No. 1128065 dated the 9th February 1915, and in which the right and left hand wings were connected by hinged joints to the central framework or fuselage so as to enable the said right and left hand wings to be turned rearward from the flying position until they were about parallel with the central framework or fuselage, and the present invention deals particularly with improved means for guiding the said wing members near the termination o-f ,tl1eir rearward folding movements, sup orting the same upon the central framework at the completion of such folding movements, and securing the said wings in such folded position in such manner that they can be readily released by mechanism controlled from the pilots seat.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 4 wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a part of a fuselage of an aeroplane flying machine, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear part of same, indicating also in dotted lines one of the wings in a folded posishaft aforesaid, and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the parts shown at Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the shaft 1, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, and

which is generally tubular, is carried in bearings 2 on the fuselage 3, and a doubleended lever 4 is attached by means of a sleeve to the tubular shaft 1, in such a manner that it may be operated to rock the shaft 1 about its axis by means of another dou ble-ended lever 5 within reach of the pilot or other operator on the machine, to which lever 5 the lever 4 is connected by rods or wires 4*. This arrangement permits of an angular adjustment being given to the tubular shaft 1 of say 90.

The ends 6 of the tubular shaft 1 which project beyond the bearings 2 outside the fuselage 3, are bent each to a suitable curve, which is directed downward when the operating lever 5 is in one position, and when the wings, one of which is indicated at Fig. 2 by dotted lines and marked 8, are folded back, a bracket such as 7, Figs. 3 and 4 fixed on a strut 8 of the wing 8 comes over the inclined portion of the projecting tubular shaft 1 which is then in the dotted posi tion Figs. 3 and 4 and rides up over it into the completely folded position, where it is arrested by means of a collar 9 on the tubular shaft 1. By operating the doubleended lever 5, the tubular shaft 1 is given a rotary movement to a position at right angles to its initial position, and this brings the bent portion 6 which was used as a guide for lifting and guiding the Wing 8 Fig. 2 into its folded position, to now serve as a locking device by coming behind the strut S or other portion of the wing S as shown at Figs. 3 and 4. The wing is readily releasable by actuating the lever 5 and rotating the shaft 1 back to its initial position as in dotted lines at Figs. 3 and 4, and the part, such as the bracket 7 which rode up over the inclined end of the tubular shaft 1, is now easily caused to ride down and allow the released wing S to be advanced into the flying position.

Although a tubular shaft has been referred to as being preferable. in the construction above described, it is obvious that any shaft could be employed, and any inclined or engaging surfaces could be formed on the ends of that shaft for the purpose of guiding the wings into position, and for intercepting parts of the wings when so folded in order to lock them in the folded position.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In guiding the folding wings of aeroplane flying machines into their folded posi tion and securing same therein; the combi" nation of a revoluble shaft extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine, bearings on the framework of said machine to carry said shaft, said shaft having both its ends beyond said bearings inclined in the same direction at an angle to the axis of said shaft to present inclined surfaces when said ends are turned downward, engaging surfaces on said wingsmto contact withsaid ends of said shaft when said wings are folded parallel with the framework to guide and lift said wings'into their folded position, and means for communicating to said shaft angular adjustmentabout its axis to cause said inclined ends of said shaftto take behind said engagsaid wings when folded.

2. In guiding the foldingwings of aeroplane flying machines into their folded position and securing same therein; the combination of a revoluble shaft extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine, bearings on the framework of said machine to carry said shaft, said shaft having both its ends beyond said bearings inclined in the same direction at an angle to the axis of said shaft to present inclined surfaces when said ends are turned downward, engaging surfaces on said wings to contact with said ends of said shaft when said wings are folded parallel with the framework to guide and lift said wings into their folded position, a hand lever within reach of the aviator, bearings to support said hand lever, and mechanism connecting said hand lever with said shaft to cause the ends of said shaft in one position of said hand lever to incline downward to re ceive said engaging surfaces of said wings at the termination of their folding movements, and in another position of said lever to causesaid inclined ends to take behind said engaging surfaces and thereby support and lock said wings when folded.

I11 guiding the folding wings of aeroplane flyingmachines into their folded position and securing same therein; the combination of a revoluble shaft extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine, bearings on the central framework ing surfaces and thereby support and lock of said machine to carry said shaft, a collar fixed on said shaft near each end thereof, inclined ends to said shaft beyond said collar both of said ends being inclined in the same direction, brackets on said wings to contact with and mount upon the down wardly lnchned ends of said shaft when said wings are folded parallel with the framework, said brackets contacting with said flanges on said shaft, and means operable by the aviator from his seat to com municateto'said shaft angular adjustment about its axis to cause said inclined ends of saidshaft to take behind parts of said wings to support and lock same in their folded position.

eh In guiding the folding wings of aeroplane flying machines into their folded position and securing same therein; the combination of a revoluble shaft extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine, bearings on the framework of said machine to carry said shaft, said shaft having both its ends beyond said hearings inclined in the same direction at an angle to the axis of said shaft to present inclined surfaces when said ends are turned down ward, engaging surfaces on said wings to contact with said ends of said shaft when said wings are folded parallel with the framework to guide and lift said wings into their folded positions, a hand lever within reach of the aviator, bearings to support said hand lever, a two-armed lever fixed on said shaft and extending in opposite directions relatively to the axis of said shaft, and Wires extending from said levers to opposite sides of the fulcrum of said hand lever to cause said end of said shaft to incline downward in one position of said lever to receive and guide the engaging surfaces of said wings and to cause said inclined ends of said shaft in another position of said hand lever to take behind said engaging surfaces on said wings.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE LEONARD SHORT. ALBERT EUSTAOE SHORT. HUGH OSWALD SHORT. WVitnesses:

THOMAS WILLIAM Rooms, WILLIAM A. MARSHALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

